Consider the heart and the circulatory system Explain an exa

Consider the heart and the circulatory system. Explain an example of how the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is under tonic control for one component of the cardiovascular system and under antagonistic control for a different component. Be sure to discuss the branches of the ANS being utilized; the neurotransmitters and receptors types (and subtypes) used in the control systems as well as their effects.

Solution

The cardiac autonomic nervous system is divided into two components:

The sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system.

The sympathetic fibres are largely from major autonomic ganglia along the cervical and thoracic spinal cord. The parasympathetic innervation originates predominantly in the nucleus ambiguus of the medulla oblongata. The parasympathetic preganglionic fibres are carried almost entirely within the vagus nerve and divided into superior, middle and inferior branches. The sympathetic nervous system increases the heart rate and force of contraction and vice-versa with the parasympathetic nervous system.

Transfer of signal through the nerve fibres:

The signals are transmitted through the nerve fibres by the action potential of the nerve membrane. The space between two nerver ends is called the synaptic cleft which contains the neurotransmitter called Acetyl Choline which help in the transmission of nerve impulses through the synapse.